Method and apparatus for providing advertisements to customers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing targeted advertisements are provided herein. During operation a system will determine a shopper's intent based on the shopper's attire (i.e., what the shopper is wearing and/or carrying). Specific advertisements will be sent to the shopper based on the shopper's attire. Because advertisements will be provided to shoppers based on the shopper's attire, shoppers will be more likely to receive an advertisement better tailored to their current needs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing an advertisement to a customer, the method comprising the steps of:
 associating a customer with a device;   determining the customer's attire;   providing an advertisement to the customer based on their attire.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of associating the customer with the device comprises the step of determining the device used by the customer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining the customer's attire comprises the step of determining what the customer is wearing and carrying. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining the customer's attire comprises the step of determining what the customer is wearing. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of determining the customer's attire comprises the step of determining what the customer is carrying. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 identifying the customer; 
 determining the customer's preferences; and 
 wherein the step of providing the advertisement is additionally based on the customer's preferences. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the advertisement comprises and advertisement of a product identified within the customer's preferences. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of providing the advertisement to the customer comprises the step of wirelessly transmitting the advertisement to a customer's smartphone. 
     
     
         9 . A method for providing an advertisement to a customer, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining a device used by the customer;   determining what the customer is wearing and/or carrying;   wirelessly providing an advertisement to the customer's smartphone based on what the customer is wearing and/or carrying.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the steps of:
 identifying the customer; 
 determining the customer's preferences; and 
 wherein the advertisement is additionally based on the customer's preferences. 
 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor associating a customer with a device;   video/image analytic circuitry determining the customer's attire; and   transmission circuitry providing an advertisement to the customer based on their attire.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the customer's attire comprises what the customer is wearing and carrying. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the customer's attire comprises what the customer is wearing. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the customer's attire comprises what the customer is carrying. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a customer preference database; and 
 wherein the advertisement is additionally based on the customer's preferences.